Tag Archives: Red Dawn

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged (no surprise there since I’m admittedly the worst blogger ever), but I received a note from a reader the other day with a really awesome suggestion for some alternate POV scenes. Because who wouldn’t want to read some of the hottest Crossroads scenes from Nik’s perspective? Fortunately, I had a really fun one tucked away that I’m more than happy to share! So without any further babbling, below is a scene from the Halloween Masquerade in Red Dawn, which was one of my favorite scenes to write in the Crossroads Academy series. Happy Reading!

Halloween Masquerade: Alternative POV Scene – Nikolai Petrov

All around me costumed bodies writhe and twist to the unending assault of techno music, but I’m only interested in one vamp tonight. I spot her as soon as she enters the crowded hall. When my eyes lock on Katia, everything else fades away. Gone are the too short skirts, the excessive glitter, and the shallow girls who throw themselves at me without reserve. I slip through the crowd, watching Katia’s every move as I maneuver to intercept her. She’s got fire in her eyes as she cuts through the sea of bodies, and I can’t help but smile as I realize we’ll meet at the center of the dance floor. As Katia approaches, I step directly into her path, cutting off any chance of escape, and offer her my glass.

“Thirsty?” I ask, not bothering to shout over the music. Without a word she takes the goblet and drains the contents. When she finishes, a thin trail of blood runs down her chin. Katia makes no move to wipe it away and my pulse flares. The desire to rub the blood from her smooth skin is nearly impossible to ignore. Better still, I could lick it from her chin and devour those pouty red lips. Of course, she’d probably tear me to pieces if I tried.

“Nice costume.” I find my eyes trailing down her athletic body. I have no idea what she’s supposed to be, but I’m guessing this is Shaye’s handiwork. Unlike the other girls at Crossroads, Katia’s not usually one to flaunt short skirts and platform shoes. Too bad. Her legs are killer. I find my gaze sliding over her bare flesh, thankful she can’t read my thoughts. Some things are better left unsaid. I drag my gaze back to her face and as our eyes meet again, I can’t help but smirk when I realize she’s blushing.

“I’m a Crossroads Academy student, sans uniform.” I smile, pleased with my own clever avoidance of the dreaded costume and grab her hand. We are at the center of the dance floor, after all. Might as well take advantage. And I know that if I ask, she’ll just shoot me down.

“Pre section 8B? Clever. Why didn’t I think of that?” she grumbles, too distracted to protest as I pull her close.

We lose ourselves in the crowd, our bodies pressed together, moving slowly to the rhythm of the music. I’m not surprised to discover that we fit together well, as though cut from the same cloth. I tighten my arms around her waist, locking our bodies together and staking my claim.

There’s something about her strength, the way she carries herself almost regally, that’s sexy as hell. Too bad that quality is the same one that makes it damn near impossible to get close to her. Months of training together and I’m no closer to breaking through her walls than I was last year when we faced Luka.

Still, for tonight, I’m content just to hold her and take what little she offers. With Katia in my arms, it’s easy to forget the sea of sweaty vamps that bump and grind all around us. I slide my hand up the gentle curve of her back as she rakes her fingers through my hair, pushing a stray curl back from my forehead. Katia snuggles closer, curling her body around mine and I’m unable to suppress the growl that passes my lips. I could get used to this.

It’s then that I notice Jade and Trey dancing across the room. No great surprise, Jade’s grinding all over the guy. Not that I care, exactly. If it were anyone else, I’d be worried about him. Jade may be one of my best friends, but she’s one part vamp, one part praying mantis. As it is, I have to admit that seeing them together makes my blood run cold. I don’t trust the guy. He’s trouble, which is the last thing Jade- or any of us- needs right now.

I’ve got a special treat for you today! While every post I’ve shared for Red Dawn is special in its own way, today is extra special because it’s also my birthday!

In light of this momentous occasion (Okay, it may only be momentous to me, but I’m going with it!) I’d like to share some of my favorite one liners from Red Dawn, which I’ve aptly dubbed, Witty One Liners! After all, what’s YA without a little snark?

Enjoy!

Witty One Liners

“And here I thought secret romances were supposed to be so much hotter.”

“You know, if you’re going to act like a drill sergeant, you might want to invest in a pair of combat boots because the zebra print stilettos are a little misleading.”

“I don’t kiss losers.”

“Maybe her willingness to provide regular whorgasms free of charge is enough to make him look the other way.”

“I’d much rather be punching something, but to each his own.”

“Even nerds get busy sometimes.”

“I must have died and gone to hell, because I could have sworn you just asked me for help.”

“Touch me again and you’ll wake up a lefty.”

“For the record, I don’t think the ‘no tell motel’ is quite what Katia had in mind when she said ‘anything’.”

“Funny how no one calls when I’m at school behaving myself.”

“At some point you’ve got to talk about boundaries, feelings, and… positions.”

“That chick is like a merry-go-round! Everyone gets a freaking turn!”

If you enjoyed Witty One Liners, you may want to check out @CAConfessions, the anonymous online confessional for Crossroads Academy students to dish on their deepest, darkest secrets!

Also, be sure to check out the Crossroads Academy Street Team (aka. Crossroads Academy Coven) for your chance to win a Kindle Fire or a Crossroads Academy prize pack!

I am SO excited about the release of Red Dawn that Crossroads Academy is going on tour again (courtesy of PJV Blog Tours). And this time it’s going to be even bigger and better!

Guest posts, interviews, twitter party, giveaways! There will be all kinds of fun stuff… So mark your calendars and put Red Dawn on your TBR list! It’s going to be an EPICtour!

Crossroads will be taking over the blogosphere August 20th – September 14th! Tour stops below!

Oh, you want more? How about a chance to win a Kindle Fire? Or maybe a Crossroads Academy prize pack? There will be lots of chances to win! It’s so easy! Be sure to visit each of the tour stops and join the Street Team — Crossroads Academy Coven!

Oh, cut the B.S. Pretending like you don’t know who I am? Right. Like everyone here doesn’t know my name. And my story. I’ve heard three different versions today alone. So what’s it to you? Looking for something you can gossip about with your hideous friends? Well, how about this. It’s none of your damn business!

Seriously. Get lost!

Hell’s bells. You’re not going anywhere, are you? Annoying and persistent? Lucky me. Fine. Let’s just get this over with. What do you want to know anyway?

I’m a first year here at Crossroads. Yeah, I know. Late start, but I’ll catch up. Aside from studying, it’s not like there’s much else around here I’d wanna bother with. I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for my Great Uncle Aldo. This was all his idea. Apparently being the head of the Elder’s Council has its privileges. He was able to pull some strings and get me admitted despite my lack of… preparation. Thanks to him, I’m stuck here playing nice with the young and entitled– like you. Given the choice I’d never have signed up for this pretentious prep school crap.

But you already knew that didn’t you? What you really want to know is where I came from and why no one even knew Aldo Lescinka had an heir until last year? Here’s the thing: I hate liars. Don’t pretend you haven’t heard the rumors. Like you don’t know that my mother died of the blood disease. Like you don’t know that I’m an orphan. That you hadn’t heard my grandmother was Aldo’s twin and that she was estranged from the family for hundreds of years. It’s all so scandalous, right? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? You want to get the dirt on me. Something no one else knows? Where did they tell you I grew up? In some archaic little village? In the mountains of Estonia? Latvia? Belarus? Whatever. It doesn’t matter.

Here’s what you really need to know about me: I’m not here to make friends. I could care less about your parties, your expensive clothes, and your stupid cliques. I don’t need you or anyone else. I’m here to fulfill a promise to my great uncle, and if I’m lucky, sharpen my martial arts skills so that one day I can join the Linkuri.

That’s right. I can see you’re starting to get it now. I like to hunt, to fight. And I’m good at it. I’m not afraid of a little pain, a few broken bones, or the bloodlust. And as far as I can tell, the rules? Well, they only apply if you get caught. I will do whatever it takes to get what I want– So stay the hell out of my way.

Each day brings us just a little closer to the Red Dawn blog tour and today I’m excited to share with you an excerpt from Crossroads, my debut novel and the first in the Crossroads Academy series.

I spot Jade first, fangs bared, looming over a human girl who can’t be more than twelve or thirteen years old. Lexie and Blaine are with her. They’re taunting the girl, hissing and laughing, feeding on her terror. She’s crouched alongside the corn, her face stained with tears.

“Leave me alone! Please!” She cries futilely. They laugh in response and creep closer, which only makes the girl wail louder. I can’t say I blame her. The fire casts an eerie glow making the appearance of her leather clad tormentors even more demonic as shadows slant across their faces.

I charge forward without thinking, slipping between Lexie and Blaine and placing my body between the cowering girl and the three monsters assailing her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shout furiously as I catch the lingering scent of the girls’ fear. A new surge of anger bubbles up from the pit of my stomach and I feel my fists clench, instinctively preparing for battle.

“We’re just having a little fun,” Lexie drawls, her accent sounding more sinister and disgusting in the firelight.

“Well now you’re done,” I tell them firmly, meeting Jade’s heated stare. Lexie and Blaine are puppets. It’s Jade who pulls the strings.

“But we’re just getting started,” she tells me. “It’s Halloween. And we want to play.” The way she draws out this last word makes my stomach twist in disgust.

“This isn’t a game,” I respond, curling my lips back to reveal my own teeth. I may just have a taste of Jade’s blood yet. I lick my lips in anticipation as anger courses through my veins. “Let her go.”

“Why don’t you make me?” Jade replies, as she steps forward menacingly.

She doesn’t have to ask twice. I pounce immediately, knocking her to the ground, the weight of my body pinning her to the dry earth. Her reflexes are sluggish compared to my own. Either she’s not as dedicated to her physical training as I am or she didn’t think I’d dare lay a finger on her. Apparently she has me confused with someone who’s worried about rules.

With the release of Red Dawn right around the corner, it’s high time we pay a little visit to Crossroads Academy. After all, what better way to dive back into the bloody world of vampires, betrayal, and a romance that’s heading for a smokin’ hot rating? Oh, you want more action? We’ve got that!

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be posting the ‘best of’ the Crossroads blog tour! For those of you that are new to the series and missed the last tour, this is your chance to catch up!

Crossroads (Crossroads Academy #1)

As if high school isn’t miserable enough, try being uprooted and dropped fangs first into an uptight prep school where everyone knows your name and they’ll stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of your past.

When Katia enrolled at Crossroads Academy she knew things weren’t exactly going to be easy. The sole heir to the worlds’ most powerful vampire, her presence was bound to cause a stir. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Whispers follow everywhere she goes. So does trouble.

Bodies start turning up in nearby Rutland and Katia is sucked into a twisted web of danger and deceit. Haunted by nightmares she can’t explain and a thirst for blood that is never sated, Katia will do whatever it takes to keep her past buried.

Nothing at Crossroads is what it seems and Katia’s secrets may be the darkest of them all.

This may be a bit anti-climatic at this point since some very wonderful bloggers are blasting it all over the blogosphere, but for those of you who haven’t seen it yet…

*drumroll please*

Red Dawn (Crossroads Academy 2)

Isn’t it lovely? To die for? Completely swoonworthy? Need I go on? Can you tell that I absolutely love this beautiful cover? Once again, Rachel at Parajunkee Design has surpassed my wildest expectations!

And now that it’s out there for the entire world to see, I’m even more excited about the upcoming blog tour! Squee! *bounces up and down on big red (aka. my couch)*

Put it on your calendar because it’s going to be EPIC! The best part? Meeting new book lovers, talking about vamps, and sharing a little bit of Red Dawn with you guys! So if you haven’t had a chance to read Crossroads yet, well, you should probably get on that! 😉 Or at least enter one of my giveaways for a chance to win a copy!

Announcing the Official Red Dawn Blog Tour!

You didn’t think I was going to just stop at a cover reveal extravaganza, did you? Go big or go home, right? I am SO excited about the release of Red Dawn that Crossroads Academy is going on tour again (courtesy of PJV Blog Tours!). And this time it’s going to be even biggerand better!

Guest posts, interviews, twitter party, giveaways! There will be all kinds of fun stuff… So mark your calendars and put Red Dawn on your TBR list! It’s going to be an EPIC tour!

Crossroads will be taking over the blogosphere August 20th – September 14th! Tour stops to follow so be sure to check back soon!

Cover Reveal: July 24th- 12pm CST!

Check out these amazing blogs for a first look at Red Dawn (Crossroads Academy 2)!

The weekend is right around the corner and you know what? That calls for some good, no, GREAT news! You guys have been patiently waiting (and frequently offering words of encouragement– like hurry the heck up!) for book two in the Crossroads Academy series. Well, the wait is almost over!

I’m thrilled to say that Red Dawn, book two in the Crossroads Academy series, will be released on August 28th! (Go ahead. Squee your heart out… I did!)

Here’s the deal…

Cover Reveal: July 24th at 12pm CST!

Check out the the amazing blogs below for a first look! The cover is AMAZING! I can’t wait for you guys to see it. Rachel at Parajunkee design has once again created something so awesome I can hardly find the words to describe it. Need more? How about giveaways? Giveaways are good, right?

J.J. Bonds is an independent author who writes Young Adult Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy. She is the author of the bestselling Crossroads Academy series. J.J. lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where her obsession with all things paranormal keeps life interesting. She lives with her husband, daughter, and one rambunctious K9. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, and zombies. Sings off-key.